New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Duesunwht’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Duesunwht’ characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely and early flowering habit; white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUESUNWHT’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duesunwht’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in December, 2014 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN-0021, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN-1176, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. on Apr. 21, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duesunwht’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duesunwht’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   6. White-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens flower slightly later than plants         of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have white-colored flowers with a lavender-colored tint.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duesspwhtcld’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,690. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duesspwhtcld’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         ‘Duesspwhtcld’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Impatiens are darker green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘Duesspwhtcld’.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Duesspwhtcld’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Duesspwhtcld’ have white-colored         flowers with a pink-colored blush.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens X hybrida ‘SAKIMP018’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,768. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘SAKIMP018’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         ‘SAKIMP018’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘SAKIMP018’ differ in leaf         color as plants of ‘SAKIMP018’ have variegated leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duesunwht’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duesunwht’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer and early autumn in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 4,500 to 5,500 lux. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duesunwht’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN-0021, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN-1176, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly             spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit             with about five primary lateral branches each with about             four to six secondary lateral branches developing per plant;             vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.         -   Height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23 cm.         -   Height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 24 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 55 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 21 cm.         -   Diameter, primary lateral branches.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Diameter, secondary lateral branches.—About 1 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 4.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—About 25° to 45° from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, when developing and fully developed.—Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of four or five leaves;             simple.         -   Length.—About 7.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte             to slightly glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             somewhat glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 147C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; somewhat glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 146D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Large single rounded             triangular and slightly cupped axillary flowers; freely             flowering habit, typically at least 150 flowers develop per             plant; flowers positioned above and beyond the foliar plane;             flowers typically face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about two to three             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about ten weeks after planting.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color: Close to N155D.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.2 cm by 5.7 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 3 cm; with spur, about 4.6 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl. Banner petals, length: About 2.2 cm. Banner             petals, width: About 4 cm. Lateral petals, length: About             2.6 cm. Lateral petals, width: About 2.6 cm. Lower petals,             length: About 3.2 cm. Lower petals, width: About 3.5 cm.             Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to NN155D. When opening,             lower surface: Close to NN155B. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; venation, close to NN155D;             color does not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             two lateral sepals and one center sepal modified into an             elongated spur. Lateral sepals, length: About 1.7 cm.             Lateral sepals, width: About 7 mm. Center sepals, length:             About 1.4 cm. Center sepals, width: About 1.2 cm. Shape:             Elliptical. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate; center sepal             modified into a curved spur. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to NN155B; towards the apex, close to 157A. Fully opened,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B; towards the apex,             close to 145B. Spur length: About 5.2 cm. Spur diameter: At             the flower, about 2 mm. Spur texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Spur color: Close to 145C to             145D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 45° to 55° from branch axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy.             Color: Close to 145B to 145C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 2 mm.             Filament color: Close to 157D. Anther size: About 3 mm by             4 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 157D.             Pollen amount: Scarce to moderate. Pollen color: Close to             160D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 6 mm. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:             Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 157B. Style length: About             1 mm. Style color: Close to 157B. Ovary color: Close to             137B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Impatiens to date. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Impatiens plants to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Duesunwht’ as illustrated and described. 